Research Question:Is the lack of Extracurricular activities causing drop out rates to increase? Contributed by: Andrea Moore
Journal Why Students Drop Out Of School: A Review of 25 Years of Research Summary: According to this journal, which has studied the drop out rate for the past 25 years there are two types of factors that affect whether a student will drop out or not, individual characteristics and institutional characteristics. The individual predictors include educational performance, behaviors, attitudes, and background. The institutional factors include families, communities, and schools. The researchers found that no one factor can make or break the decision to stay in school. Also, students behavior is not the only reason they drop out. There are many other factors including their family life, extracurricular activities, and performance in school. They found that intervening at a young age will help students stay in school, as well as using cost-effective programs like extracurricular activities to help keep students interested and occupied.
Reaction: I liked this article because it showed the research problems of the past 25 years. It opened my eyes to ideas that I had not previously thought of, like individual factors along with institutional. I had assumed most of the blame was to be put on the school for not providing a better system for students to get involved in, but after reading this I found that dropping out also can happen because of personal reasons. Because extracurricular activities are becoming more of a scarcity, students will most likely start to drop out more often. Although that has not been found in research that is what I believe after reading this article. I think that because students want something to get involved in, it should be provided. Furthermore, extracurricular activities also help a student's academic achievements improve, so that should be another factor taken into consideration. Prices are obviously on the rise, but people have found ways to raise money, and I think that more schools should be doing that to support their students. Clearly students need more than a classroom to get involved, so these programs should be started at a young age. If students learn from a young age to be involved in outside activities, they will most likely learn to follow these same footsteps as adults.
Activities May Curb Dropout Rates Summary: This article sheds light on the pros of having extracurricular activities. It states that students are more likely to have peer-oriented social groups that encourage them to come to school and do well. Not having extracurricular activites increases the rate of not graduating because students will start to hang out with other students who are not involved or who have already dropped out. The article says that students need a broad range of things to get interested in, because if they do not have something they like, they will not want to get involved. The article also states that students are less likely to be peer pressured because in these activities they find friends and groups they can relate to, who share the same interests, so it is not likely that things they do not like are presented to them. Because of all these factors, students find school as a positive, fun place to be, rather then an obligatory, boring place to be.
Reaction: This article is very similar to some of the other articles I researched. I found it interesting that students are less likely to be peer pressured because of the friendships they form. I can definitely relate personally to these articles because they state very true facts about the social relationships made through these activities. It's interesting to see that students who are not involved are very likely to hang out with those who have already dropped out. I did notice that when I was in high school but it wasn't something I really paid attention to until now. The leadership skills students learn within these teams or clubs whether it be to lead a discussion or learn how to listen better, are very important characteristics that can be used later on in life.
Extra Curricular Activities May be the Glue That Keeps Students in School Summary: According to the University of California, students are more likely to stay in school because of extracurricular activities. The University found that the drop out rate is directly related to the participation in extra curricular activities. This article focuses mostly on Mexican American students who are unable to participate in these activities because they most likely need to hold jobs after school to help support the family or they need to take care of younger siblings while their parents are at work. These students who are not involved are more likely to get involved in bad behaviors which leads to them hanging out with students who have already dropped out, or those who don't take part in anything after school. If a student is involved they are more likely to find a friend or support system within the school system, while those outside the extracurricular system feel alone and engage in bad behaviors with others for attention or friendship. The University thinks that budget cuts should not be made on extracurricular activities because they help keep kids in school, so they are just as important as the classes themselves.
Reaction: I really liked this article because it described how most students feel. I could definitely relate because during high school I found it easier to go to school on days that I had something to do either during the school day or after school because I had something to look forward to. Although it is a stereotype to say kids will start engaging in bad behavior if they are not involved, it is also true. Many students who have friends who dropped out or friends who are not involved need to do something to bond together, or do something to pass the time together so they engage in activities that are not good for them. It is hard for students to start to pay for things like extracurricular activities because they are expensive so these budget cuts should not be made. I think that this article is great proof that students need and look forward to these activities more than adults could know.
Ransom, T (2008, June, 26). Extra Curricular Activities May be the Glue That Keeps Students in School Retrieved 12/2/08, from http://newsroom.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=1880Extra Curricular Activities May be the Glue That Keeps Students in School
Viewpoint Essay/Reputable Newspaper School’s New Rule for Pupils in Trouble: No Fun Summary: In a small New York town administrators have decided to cut off extracurricular activities for students who have "poor grades or bad attitudes." An example of this is a middle school dance. Students came to the door but teachers turned them away, those who were not elligible could not come inside because of their grades or attitudes that show no effort. Over a quarter of the student body, 580 students, are being excluded from extra curricular activites. This style of authority is not used often and is seen as almost militaristic because of the boot camp style types of rules. There are rules for the bus ride, walking to the bathroom, and assigned seats in the cafeteria. Any rule breaking can result in a "silent lunch" in the cafeteria by yourself. Students are not reacting very well to this new type of system, they feel as though things are being ripped out from underneath them, things they were able to enjoy earlier are not available to them now. One young boy who was considered to have bad grades and a poor attitude said, "It’s not doing anything for me except taking everything away." Teachers and parents are worried about this approach because it is clear that students who take part in extracurricular activities achieve higher scores and do better in school than those who don't. They feel that if the activities are taken away, students will have no motivation to come to school and will start to get involved in bad things. Some parents think it is good and that is teaching the students responsibility, but most of the students find it degrading because they are being pointed out as the stupid ones or the dumb ones, while everyone else is close to perfect.
Reaction
I thought this article was very interesting. It showed the pros and cons of having extracurricular activities. I think that although the administration thinks they are doing good things for school, they aren't. It is obvious that plenty of the students disagree with these new rules, which discourages them to participate. I think that if you take something away students will feel like they are being personally punished, and like one of the students said in the article, no one is perfect and it's unfair for the kids who are not as smart. It is definitely unfair to take away things like a student's lunch. Putting a student in a solitary, silent room for lunch is more than a punishment, it is wrong. If a person were punished for every little thing they did wrong, they would never be able to move on because they would always either worry about being punished or they would be in the middle of the act of being punished. I know the administration thinks it will drill responsibility into some kid's heads, which I'm sure it will, but to take it so far is such an extreme, especially for such young students. Taking away these extracurricular activities will only affect the students in bad ways. They will be more likely to get into things they are not supposed to for recreation, because the school will not allow them to participate. Also, since they are already being coined as outcasts, or the kids who didn't pass the bar, they will most likely want to rebel and do something wrong. These kinds of school rules do not allow a student to grow and learn, they either scare students into learning, or it completely backfires, leaving students to find other extracurricular activities. It also makes kids not want to come to school. If there is nothing for a student to look forward to, like a music practice, or a writing club, they will most likely let their grades drop along with their attendance.
ERIC The Dropout's Perspective on Leaving School Summary: In this ERIC Digests article, high school dropout's gave their reasons for leaving school early. It was found that the students who dropped out had a very low rate of involvement in extracurricular activity, if they had any involvement at all. The dropouts found school to be boring, and teach them things they did not need to know. They also said that they either needed to work because they could not afford school, or that their grades were not very high. After dropping out, most of the students obtained low-paying jobs that could not support them. In a 1956-57 study two thirds of the students who dropped out planned on going back to better their education because the opportunities were limited. It was found that most of the students who dropped out thought it was a bad idea, and wished they had not done it in the first place. The conclusion to this article states that students need more activities to keep them centered and interested, because only classes does not provide enough time or a place for students to interact with each other and build relationships.
Reaction: Although this study was conducted almost 20 years ago, it still holds true today. Many students find school boring or not important without something to look forward to. It is interesting to see that even in the late 1950's students were struggling with the same problems students have today. The difference is that extracurricular activities were not a set part of the cirriculum whereas now they were a part, but are being cut by a budget. These programs help students stay in school, as it was stated in the article, plenty of students were not happy with their decision to leave school, and perhaps with the availability of programs after school, they may not have left. It seems as though the friendships and social networks made during this time are the reason students stay in school. Beekman, N (1987, September). The Dropout's Perspective on Leaving School. ERIC Digests, Retrieved 12/2/2008, from http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-927/leaving.htm
Research Question: Is the lack of Extracurricular activities causing drop out rates to increase?
Contributed by: Andrea Moore
Journal
Why Students Drop Out Of School: A Review of 25 Years of Research
Summary: According to this journal, which has studied the drop out rate for the past 25 years there are two types of factors that affect whether a student will drop out or not, individual characteristics and institutional characteristics. The individual predictors include educational performance, behaviors, attitudes, and background. The institutional factors include families, communities, and schools. The researchers found that no one factor can make or break the decision to stay in school. Also, students behavior is not the only reason they drop out. There are many other factors including their family life, extracurricular activities, and performance in school. They found that intervening at a young age will help students stay in school, as well as using cost-effective programs like extracurricular activities to help keep students interested and occupied.
Reaction: I liked this article because it showed the research problems of the past 25 years. It opened my eyes to ideas that I had not previously thought of, like individual factors along with institutional. I had assumed most of the blame was to be put on the school for not providing a better system for students to get involved in, but after reading this I found that dropping out also can happen because of personal reasons. Because extracurricular activities are becoming more of a scarcity, students will most likely start to drop out more often. Although that has not been found in research that is what I believe after reading this article. I think that because students want something to get involved in, it should be provided. Furthermore, extracurricular activities also help a student's academic achievements improve, so that should be another factor taken into consideration. Prices are obviously on the rise, but people have found ways to raise money, and I think that more schools should be doing that to support their students. Clearly students need more than a classroom to get involved, so these programs should be started at a young age. If students learn from a young age to be involved in outside activities, they will most likely learn to follow these same footsteps as adults.
Rumberger, R, & Lim, S (2008). Why Students Drop Out Of School: A Review of 25 Years of Research. California Dropout Research Project. 15, 1-4. http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/CSN/PDF/Flyer+-+Why+students+drop+out.pdf
Activities May Curb Dropout Rates
Summary: This article sheds light on the pros of having extracurricular activities. It states that students are more likely to have peer-oriented social groups that encourage them to come to school and do well. Not having extracurricular activites increases the rate of not graduating because students will start to hang out with other students who are not involved or who have already dropped out. The article says that students need a broad range of things to get interested in, because if they do not have something they like, they will not want to get involved. The article also states that students are less likely to be peer pressured because in these activities they find friends and groups they can relate to, who share the same interests, so it is not likely that things they do not like are presented to them. Because of all these factors, students find school as a positive, fun place to be, rather then an obligatory, boring place to be.
Reaction: This article is very similar to some of the other articles I researched. I found it interesting that students are less likely to be peer pressured because of the friendships they form. I can definitely relate personally to these articles because they state very true facts about the social relationships made through these activities. It's interesting to see that students who are not involved are very likely to hang out with those who have already dropped out. I did notice that when I was in high school but it wasn't something I really paid attention to until now. The leadership skills students learn within these teams or clubs whether it be to lead a discussion or learn how to listen better, are very important characteristics that can be used later on in life.
(2008). Your University Online. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from Activities May Curb Dropout Rates Web site: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/advocacy/your_university_07_2008/story3.html
Extra Curricular Activities May be the Glue That Keeps Students in School
Summary: According to the University of California, students are more likely to stay in school because of extracurricular activities. The University found that the drop out rate is directly related to the participation in extra curricular activities. This article focuses mostly on Mexican American students who are unable to participate in these activities because they most likely need to hold jobs after school to help support the family or they need to take care of younger siblings while their parents are at work. These students who are not involved are more likely to get involved in bad behaviors which leads to them hanging out with students who have already dropped out, or those who don't take part in anything after school. If a student is involved they are more likely to find a friend or support system within the school system, while those outside the extracurricular system feel alone and engage in bad behaviors with others for attention or friendship. The University thinks that budget cuts should not be made on extracurricular activities because they help keep kids in school, so they are just as important as the classes themselves.
Reaction: I really liked this article because it described how most students feel. I could definitely relate because during high school I found it easier to go to school on days that I had something to do either during the school day or after school because I had something to look forward to. Although it is a stereotype to say kids will start engaging in bad behavior if they are not involved, it is also true. Many students who have friends who dropped out or friends who are not involved need to do something to bond together, or do something to pass the time together so they engage in activities that are not good for them. It is hard for students to start to pay for things like extracurricular activities because they are expensive so these budget cuts should not be made. I think that this article is great proof that students need and look forward to these activities more than adults could know.
Ransom, T (2008, June, 26). Extra Curricular Activities May be the Glue That Keeps Students in School Retrieved 12/2/08, from http://newsroom.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=1880 Extra Curricular Activities May be the Glue That Keeps Students in School
Viewpoint Essay/Reputable Newspaper
School’s New Rule for Pupils in Trouble: No Fun
Summary: In a small New York town administrators have decided to cut off extracurricular activities for students who have "poor grades or bad attitudes." An example of this is a middle school dance. Students came to the door but teachers turned them away, those who were not elligible could not come inside because of their grades or attitudes that show no effort. Over a quarter of the student body, 580 students, are being excluded from extra curricular activites. This style of authority is not used often and is seen as almost militaristic because of the boot camp style types of rules. There are rules for the bus ride, walking to the bathroom, and assigned seats in the cafeteria. Any rule breaking can result in a "silent lunch" in the cafeteria by yourself. Students are not reacting very well to this new type of system, they feel as though things are being ripped out from underneath them, things they were able to enjoy earlier are not available to them now. One young boy who was considered to have bad grades and a poor attitude said, "It’s not doing anything for me except taking everything away." Teachers and parents are worried about this approach because it is clear that students who take part in extracurricular activities achieve higher scores and do better in school than those who don't. They feel that if the activities are taken away, students will have no motivation to come to school and will start to get involved in bad things. Some parents think it is good and that is teaching the students responsibility, but most of the students find it degrading because they are being pointed out as the stupid ones or the dumb ones, while everyone else is close to perfect.
Reaction
I thought this article was very interesting. It showed the pros and cons of having extracurricular activities. I think that although the administration thinks they are doing good things for school, they aren't. It is obvious that plenty of the students disagree with these new rules, which discourages them to participate. I think that if you take something away students will feel like they are being personally punished, and like one of the students said in the article, no one is perfect and it's unfair for the kids who are not as smart. It is definitely unfair to take away things like a student's lunch. Putting a student in a solitary, silent room for lunch is more than a punishment, it is wrong. If a person were punished for every little thing they did wrong, they would never be able to move on because they would always either worry about being punished or they would be in the middle of the act of being punished. I know the administration thinks it will drill responsibility into some kid's heads, which I'm sure it will, but to take it so far is such an extreme, especially for such young students. Taking away these extracurricular activities will only affect the students in bad ways. They will be more likely to get into things they are not supposed to for recreation, because the school will not allow them to participate. Also, since they are already being coined as outcasts, or the kids who didn't pass the bar, they will most likely want to rebel and do something wrong. These kinds of school rules do not allow a student to grow and learn, they either scare students into learning, or it completely backfires, leaving students to find other extracurricular activities. It also makes kids not want to come to school. If there is nothing for a student to look forward to, like a music practice, or a writing club, they will most likely let their grades drop along with their attendance.
Hu, W. (2008, April 4). School’s New Rule for Pupils in Trouble: No Fun. The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/education/04middle.html?_r=2&scp=81&sq=lack%20of%20extracurricular%20activities&st=cse.
ERIC
The Dropout's Perspective on Leaving School
Summary: In this ERIC Digests article, high school dropout's gave their reasons for leaving school early. It was found that the students who dropped out had a very low rate of involvement in extracurricular activity, if they had any involvement at all. The dropouts found school to be boring, and teach them things they did not need to know. They also said that they either needed to work because they could not afford school, or that their grades were not very high. After dropping out, most of the students obtained low-paying jobs that could not support them. In a 1956-57 study two thirds of the students who dropped out planned on going back to better their education because the opportunities were limited. It was found that most of the students who dropped out thought it was a bad idea, and wished they had not done it in the first place. The conclusion to this article states that students need more activities to keep them centered and interested, because only classes does not provide enough time or a place for students to interact with each other and build relationships.
Reaction: Although this study was conducted almost 20 years ago, it still holds true today. Many students find school boring or not important without something to look forward to. It is interesting to see that even in the late 1950's students were struggling with the same problems students have today. The difference is that extracurricular activities were not a set part of the cirriculum whereas now they were a part, but are being cut by a budget. These programs help students stay in school, as it was stated in the article, plenty of students were not happy with their decision to leave school, and perhaps with the availability of programs after school, they may not have left. It seems as though the friendships and social networks made during this time are the reason students stay in school.
Beekman, N (1987, September). The Dropout's Perspective on Leaving School. ERIC Digests, Retrieved 12/2/2008, from http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-927/leaving.htm
EDC 102 F08 Fnl Proj Eval - Andrea M